translation rights

I am interested in translating a book from English into Chinese, what is the process of obtaining the permission from the press, and what is Standard and Complex translation rights?

December 10, 2009 @ 9:57amCarrie says:

I do not know what are standard or complex translation rights.

If you intend on translating the work and then selling the translation, you must get permission from the rights holder because you are creating what is called a "derivative work" which is an exclusive right of the rights holder. You are benefiting financially by using someone's else creativity. Copyright is a statutory monopoly - in general only rights holders can profit from their works, although there are limits. For example, if the work is in the public domain, you can make a translation without permission because the term of the monopoly has ended.